The leadership crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party is expected to reach a breaking point today as factions loyal to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike prepare to hold parallel National Executive Committee meetings at the party’s Abuja headquarters.
Tensions escalated after Saturday’s national convention in Ibadan, which produced a new National Working Committee and expelled several key Wike allies.
Despite the expulsions, Senator Samuel Anyanwu and other Wike-aligned leaders issued notices summoning emergency NEC and Board of Trustees meetings at Wadata Plaza, insisting the gathering was compulsory and would address what they termed urgent party matters.
Newly elected National Chairman Tanimu Turaki countered with his own invitations and, after visiting the Force Headquarters on Monday, warned authorities of an alleged plan by Anyanwu’s group to disrupt proceedings.
He maintained that those expelled in Ibadan had lost all legitimacy and vowed to lead the new NWC into the secretariat, describing any rival group attempting to operate from the same venue as interlopers.
But resistance remains strong. Umar Bature, recently expelled as National Organising Secretary, dismissed his removal and confirmed he would attend the meeting convened by Anyanwu.
Senior party figure Bode George, however, insisted that Anyanwu’s role had ended with his expulsion and described his attempt to summon NEC and BoT meetings as illegal.
The Makinde faction is also facing criticism. A member of the camp argued anonymously that Turaki’s leadership lacks legitimacy, pointing to the limited number of states represented at the Ibadan convention.
The source further accused leading figures across the divide including Wike, Makinde and George of anti-party behaviour during the 2023 elections.
Amid the turmoil, former Kaduna State Governor Ahmed Makarfi resigned as Secretary of the Board of Trustees, citing the need to avoid having two top offices occupied by politicians from the same geopolitical zone.
His exit added to the unrest already fueled by conflicting court orders that sought both to restrain and to validate the Ibadan convention.
With both factions mobilising supporters and issuing competing directives, today’s parallel meetings have set the stage for one of the most consequential confrontations in the PDP’s recent history.
As the party edges closer to the 2027 general elections, observers say the outcome of today’s showdown could determine the future direction and unity of Nigeria’s main opposition party.
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